WALK ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS
Few of us have the time to actually Walk Across West Virginia (WAWV), but we can do a
virtual Walk Across West Virginia by walking a distance equal to walking across the state. On the
following pages are descriptions of five routes across West Virginia. Two are existing trails, two are
hypothetical straight line routes through the geographical center of the state and one is a
combination of trails and public roads. The longest route across the state is 281 miles. If you
walked 5.5 miles a week or 21.5 miles a month, in your local neighborhood, you would equal the
longest distance in less than a year.
So why not set a personal goal of Walking Across West Virginia this year! Record the date
you reach a specific mileage point on one of the routes to track your progress. You can use the
mileage tracking chart found on the WAWV website to track your accumulated miles. Include your
family members in your trip. You might enhance the “virtual” experience by actually walking parts
of the existing trails nearest you, or by visiting some of the areas traversed by the hypothetical
routes.
The West to East route across the state also includes “trivia questions” about West Virginia.
See how much you know about West Virginia.!
Allegheny Trail Milage Listing
Date
Mileage
Elevation
Description
_____
0.0
2182
Pennsylvania/West Virginia State Line close to Bruceton Mills on Local Route 4
_____
8.0
1495
Cross under I-68
_____
13.3
1693
Mt. Nebo-Begin descent into the Cheat River Gorge
_____
28.8
1252
Cross WV 26
_____
30.3
1220
Arrive at Albright, Preston County
_____
39.0
2680
Briery Mt. Road-Local Route 86
_____
41.4
2634
Top of Eastern wall of Cheat River Gorge
_____
42.2
2730
Pass by the Camp Dawson Military Reservation
_____
53.9
1486
Saltlick Creek 0.8 miles East of Rowlesburg
_____
61.3
1432
Trail joins U.S. 50 (Northwestern Turnpike) along Cheat River
_____
63.4
1483
Leave U.S. 50
_____
70.6
2020
Preston / Tucker County Line
_____
74.7
1766
Lead Mine
_____
80.5
3506
Intersect U.S. 219 on Backbone Mountain
_____
82.6
3343
Leave U.S. 219 on Forest Service 18 - Olson Fire Tower Road
_____
84.3
3110
North rim of Blackwater Canyon - Overlook of Big Run - Continue on Rim Road
_____
89.5
2810
Reach the old mining communities of Douglas/Coketon - Douglas Falls
_____
90.9
2960
Cross North Fork of Blackwater River
_____
93.3
3060
Blackwater Falls State Park Boundary
_____
95.2
3110
Trail to Blackwater Falls overlook takes off to the right.
_____
95.7
3140
Take Davis Trail toward Canaan Valley
_____
98.8
3690
Cross Canaan Loop Road - U.S. forest service 13
_____
101.2
3600
Canaan Valley State Park - Cabin areas 1/4 mile from trail
_____
104.5
3200
Join WV 45 Laneville/Jenningston Road
_____
106.0
2550
Join WV 72 at Red Creek
_____
109.7
2000
Jenningston - Cross Dry Fork
_____
112.9
1950
Gladwin - start following Glady fork
_____
116.2
2130
Tucker/Randolph County Line
_____
130.5
2660
Cross U.S. 33 at Alpena
_____
141.5
3060
Glady
_____
157.8
4070
Gaudineer Scenic Area
_____
163.9
3280
Join U.S. 250 - Follow for 2 miles
_____
166.0
2700
Durbin
_____
174.1
3400
High Point along Little Mountain
_____
178.2
3200
Views of National Radio Observatory at Greenbank off to the left.
_____
184.9
2560
Cass
_____
188.4
2360
Sitlington
_____
192.1
2460
Cloverlick
_____
199.8
2560
Cross WV 28 - Begin assent of Marlin Mountain
_____
210.8
2260
Huntersville
_____
226.6
2560
Beaver Creek Campground, Watoga State Park - Begin assent of Middle Mountain
_____
247.8
2212
Greenbrier County Route 14. 8.2 miles from Lake Sherwood 2.5 miles from Neolo.
Current terminus of Trail.
Propose trail goes another 21 miles to junction with
Appalachian Trail in Virginia.
Walk Across West Virginia
North to South
Date
Mile
Location
_____ 0.0
Start — Ohio River, Ohio side
_____ 0.5
Cross Route 2 just East of Newell
_____ 1.5
Cross Route 2/6
_____ 2.5
Follow Rt. 6 for ½ mile to intersection of 208
_____ 5.8
Cross Route 2 again
_____ 7.0
Enter Ohio
_____ 12.0
Pass the Outskirts of Toronto, Ohio
_____ 15.0
Cross Ohio Route 7
_____ 15.5
Cross Ohio River and enter WV at Brooke County Line
_____ 16.0
Cross Ohio River into Ohio again
_____ 19.0
Enter Mingo Junction, Ohio
_____ 24.0
Cross Ohio River and enter WV again
_____ 24.5
Cross Route 2
_____ 28.0
Cross county Route 30
_____ 29.8
Leave Brooke County and enter Ohio County just East of Wheeling-Ohio County Airport
_____ 31.0
Cross County Route 30
_____ 34.0
Cross State Rt. 88
_____ 38.5
Pass through Tridelphia
_____ 39.0
Cross Interstate 70
_____ 40.3
Leave Ohio and enter Marshall county
_____ 44.0
Pass Brushes Run Public Fishing Area
_____ 46.0
Cross County Route 7
_____ 47.5
Cross County Route 250
_____ 53.0
Cross Grove Creek West of Glen Easton
_____ 57.0
Cross County 23 and Cameron Ridge
_____ 61.0
Leave Marshall and enter Wetzel County
_____ 62
Cross State Route 89
_____ 68.0
Cross State route 7
_____ 72.0
Cross Route 20
_____ 77.0
Leave Wetzel and Enter Tyler County
_____ 78.5
Leave Tyler and enter Doddridge County
_____ 88.0
Cross State Route 23 west of Center Point
_____ 88.5
Cross U.S. 50
_____ 94.0
Enter Avon
_____ 99.0
Leave Doddridge and enter Lewis County
_____ 105
Cross U.S. 33 west of Camden
_____ 113
Leave Lewis and enter Gilmer County
_____ 117
Leave Gilmer and enter Braxton County
______ 118
Cross Interstate 79 just east of Burnsville
_____ 122
Cross State Route 5
_____ 126
Cross State Route 19
_____ 130
Cross State Route 15
_____ 131
Swim Sutton Lake
_____ 134
Cross geologic center of WV
_____ 142
Leave Braxton and enter Webster county
_____ 145
Cross State Route 20 at Craigsville
_____ 146
Leave Webster and enter Nicholas County
_____ 153
Cross State Route 20 at Craigsville
_____ 161
Cross State Route 55
_____ 169
Leave Nicholas and enter Greenbrier county
_____ 178
Pass by Anjean
_____ 187
Cross Interstate 64 at Sam Black Church
_____ 198
Pass through Alderson
_____ 199
Leave Greenbrier and enter Monroe County
_____ 203
Cross Route 3
_____ 212
Cross U.S. Route 219
_____ 220
Finish - West Virginia State Line
Walk Across West Virginia
West to East
Date
Miles
Location
_____
0.00
_____
9.00
Start. Ohio River about 1 mile north of Ashton, Mason County
1) The Ohio River is the boundary between Ohio and West Virginia at this point. What
part of the river is the boundary point?
2) What major WV cities are on the banks of the Ohio River?
Leave Mason County and cross into Putnam County
_____
10.40
Cross U.S. Route 35
_____
10.75
_____
25.20
_____
26.40
Cross Kanawha River
3) What two rivers join at Gauley Bridge to form the Kanawha River?
Leave Putnam and enter Jackson County
4) Who/what is Jackson County named for?
Pass through the community of Young, Jackson County
_____
28.20
_____
34.5
_____
41.5
_____
48.5
Cross Interstate 77
5) Traveling from South to North, what would be the first county in West Virginia you
would pass through on Interstate 77?
5a)Traveling from South to North, what would be the last county in WV you would pass
through on Interstate 79?
Leave Jackson County and enter Roane County
6) What counties border Roane County?
Pass through the community of Walton and cross U.S. Highway Route 119.
7) Do you know at what two points U.S. 119 enters and exits WV?
Cross state Route 36 between Looneyville and Left Hand.
_____
56.10
Leave Roane County and enter Calhoun County
_____
57.3
Leave Calhoun and reenter Roane County
_____
57.60
Leave Roane and reenter Calhoun County
_____
59.90
Leave Calhoun and enter Braxton County
_____
66.00
_____
74
_____
79.0
Cross Elk River near Frametown
8) What are some of the major communities along Elk River?
9) What is the large city at the Mouth of the Elk and what significance is it to
West Virginia?
Cross interstate highway 79
10) What is the last major town I-79 passes by before entering Pennsylvania?
Cross the geographical center of WV
_____
82.40
_____
85.4
_____
88.00
Cross the back of Sutton Lake
11) What civil war event took place near here?
Leave Braxton and enter Webster County
12)Who were Braxton and Webster counties named for?
Pass through Guardian, Webster County
_____
92.10
Cross State Route 20
_____
95.80
Pass through part of Holly River State Park
_____
100.10
Leave Webster and enter Randolph County.
_____
104.5
Cross Left Fork of Buckhannon River.
WALK ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA - WEST TO EAST (CONTINUED)
_____
106.10
Enter Kumbrabow State Forest
_____
109.50
Leave Kumbrabow State Forest
_____
112.30
Elkwater, Randolph County - Cross U.S. 219
_____
117.30
Cross U.S. Route 250 - top of Cheat Mountain
_____
120.30
_____
122.20
_____
123.70
_____
126.40
Cross Shavers Fork of Cheat River and railroad
13) the waters of Shavers fork flow into what rivers?
Leave Randolph, enter Pocahontas County
14) Who was Pocahontas County named for?
Cross West Fork of Greenbrier River
15) The waters of the West Fork flow into what rivers?
Cross Little River
_____
129
Cross top of Burner Mountain
_____
133
Cross Allegheny Mountain, leave Pocahontas Cty., enter Pendleton Cty.
_____
139.5
Cross State Rt. 28 after passing Hunting Gound Mt.
_____
151
Cross U.S. 220 just south of Franklin
_____
160.00
Cross Dickinson Mountain
_____
162
Cross U.S. Route 33 north of Brandywine
_____
164
Virginia State Line - Finish!!
Answer to Walk Across WV: West To East
Bonus Mile Questions
1. The low water mark on the Ohio side of the river is the state boundary. The Ohio River is within
West Virginia.
2. Weirton, Wheeling, Moundsville, Parkersburg, and Huntington are major WV cities on the
Ohio River.
3. The Gauley and New Rivers meet at Gauley Bridge to form the Kanawha River.
4. Andrew Jackson, seventh president and military hero.
5. Mercer County is the southern most county crossed by I-77.
5a. Monongalia County is the last county before I-79 crosses into Pennsylvania.
6.
Kanawha, Clay, Calhoun, Jackson and Wirt Counties border Roane County.
7. US 119 enters Pennsylvania at Point Marion, Pa. in the north and Kentucky at Williamson, WV
in the south.
8. Webster Springs, Sutton, and Charleston are three of the communities that border the Elk River.
9. Charleston is the largest city on the Elk and the Capitol of the state.
10. Morgantown is the last major town before I-79 leaves West Virginia. Morgantown is the
site of West Virginia University.
11. The civil war skirmish for control of the Gauley Bridge and Weston Turnpike at Bulltown.
12. Braxton — Carter Braxton, American Revolution political leader. Webster — Daniel Webster,
American Statesman.
13. Shavers Fork flows into the Cheat River, Cheat into the Monongahela River, Monongahela into
the Ohio River, Ohio River into the Mississippi River, and the Mississippi into the Gulf of
Mexico.
14. Pocahontas, the legendary Indian princess.
15. The West Fork flows into the main Greenbrier River, Greenbrier into the New River, New River
into the Kanawha River, Kanawha River into the Ohio river, Ohio River into the Mississippi
River, Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico.
American Discovery Trail - WV Portion
East to West
Date
Milage
Description
_____
0
Green Springs, WV
_____
11.8
Fort Ashby
_____
32.5
Ridgeville
_____
48.0
Greenland Gap, Grant County
_____
65.4
Bear Rocks at Dolly Sods, Tucker County
_____
68.1
Red Creek Campground, Dolly Sods
_____
77.4
Canaan Valley State Park
_____
88.8
Blackwater Falls State Park Lodge
_____
105.2
Hendricks
_____
109.2
Parsons
_____
126.4
Valley Furnace
_____
129.2
Nesterville
_____
136.5
Phillipi
_____
141.0
Arden
_____
154.0
Tygart Lake State Park
_____
158.0
Grafton
_____
188.4
Bridgeport
_____
196.9
Glen Falls, Harrison County Rail Trail
_____
208.9
Clarksburg
_____
212.9
Wilsonburg, Eastern end of North Bend Rail Trail
_____
194.2
Leave Ritchie, enter Wood County
_____
215.9
Tunnel
_____
219.3
Salem
_____
228.3
Smithburg
_____
231.2
West Union
_____
242.8
Pennsboro
_____
247.4
Ellenboro
_____
248.8
North Bend State Park
_____
251.9
Petroleum
_____
270.2
Walker
_____
280.2
Parkersburg
_____
281.0
Ohio River
Greenbrier River Trail to Thomas
This route follows rail trails, secondary and U.S. Forest Service roads, and short sections of
U.S. highway routes. Though the route could be walked (especially the rail trails and forest (service
road), it would be an excellent bike touring route.
Date Mileage
_____
Mileage GBR
Between Trail
Points
Miles*
0.0
0.0
3.1
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
2.5
5.7
8.0
10.9
18.6
21.6
26.5
27.8
32.4
35.7
36.2
2.5
3.2
2.3
2.9
7.7
3.3
4.6
1.3
4.6
3.3
0.5
5.6
8.8
11.1
14.0
21.7
25.0
29.6
30.9
35.5
38.8
39.3
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
42.7
49.0
52.0
52.9
58.2
59.3
62.2
68.1
71.3
73.7
76.3
77.3
6.5
6.3
3.0
0.9
5.3
1.1
2.9
5.9
3.2
2.4
2.6
1.0
45.8
52.1
55.1
56.0
61.3
62.4
65.3
71.2
74.4
76.8
79.4
_____
_____
_____
81
91.2
91.9
3.7
10.2
0.7
_____
_____
_____
_____
98.3
101.4
106.5
108.4
6.4
3.1
5.1
1.9
Description
South trail head near Caldwell. Access of of U.S. Route 60
East of Lewisburg.
Hopper
Loopermount
Keister
Anthony
Spring Creek Bridge
Renick
Horrock
Droop Mountain Tunnel
Greenbrier/Pocahontas County Line
Beard
Denmar - Originally a state tuberculoses hospital, later a long
term care facility and now a medium security prison.
Seebert - Access to Watoga State Park
Buckeye
Marlinton Municipal Park
Marlinton
Thorny Creek
Clawson
Sharps Tunnel - 511 feet
Cloverlick
Stony Bottom
Sitlington
Northern Greenbrier River Trail Head
Cass - Take paved County Rt. 1, Back Mountain Road out of
Cass
Wanless
250/11 Intersection. Turn right onto 250/11
Intersection with U.S. Route 250, Greenbrier River Bridge
Pick up West Fork Trial on Eastern end of bridge. You may
have to go toward Durbin to gain easy access to the trail.
Burner - Little River joins West Fork of Greenbrier River
May
Wildell
Randolph/Pocahontas County Line. Greenbrier River/Glady
Creek divide. Water South of the divide enters the Ohio River
Via the New and Kanawha Rivers. Water North of the divide
enters the Ohio River via the Cheat and Monongahela Rivers.
_____
_____
_____
_____
113.6
113.8
123.3
124.3
5.5
0.2
9.5
1
Glady - Pick up paved route 27 here.
Intersection - Continue straight
Alpena - Intersection with U.S. 33. Turn Right onto 33
Right turn onto gravel Forest Service Road 91 at top of Shavers
Mountain - Alpena Gap.
_____ 125.7
1.4
Bare Left at intersection.
_____ 127.1
1.4
Bear Haven Recreation Area
_____ 130.8
3.7
Intersection with access road to Bickle Knob lookout tower.
Access road comes in from the right. 0.3 miles to the tower.
Fantastic view of the area from the tower.
_____ 134.6
3.8
Access Road to Stuart Recreation Area - Camping/showers
_____ 135.0
0.4
Old route 33 - Turn right
_____ 137.1
2.1
Route 33 (Four Lane) - Turn right
_____ 140.5
3.4
Elkins - Intersection with Route 92. Right turn onto Route 92 N,
33 West. (Rather than following route 92 through Elkins, you can
Follow the back streets. There is a visitors center at the
Intersection where you can get directions and a map if they are
Open.)
_____ 141.6
1.1
Jct. 219 North - follow 219 North
_____ 142.4
0.8
Allegheny Trail trail head on right. Pick up trail here. It is paved
for about 3 miles out of Elkins.
_____ 145.2
2.8
Gilman
_____ 148.7
3.5
Kerens
_____ 152.9
4.2
Montrose
_____ 159.2
6.3
Moore
_____ 160.5
1.3
Porterwood
_____ 163.0
2.5
Parsons - Pick up U.S. 219 North in Parsons. American
Discovery Trail goes through Parsons.
_____ 165.2
2.2
Right onto route 72.
_____ 166.0
0.8
Hambleton
_____ 167.1
1.1
Hendricks - Pick up Blackwater Canyon Trail coming in from left
Past the post office.
_____ 175.6
8.5
Douglas
_____ 177.9
2.3
Thomas - end of route.
* The Greenbrier River Trail uses the old railroad mileage starting in Ronceverte, 3.1 miles South of
the southern trail head. The former rail line joined the mainline in Ronceverte.
_